of Governor Herbert R. O'Conor 677

play their trump card. Through the schools and through the youth of Norway
would gain their ends. The Quisling government resolved that 2000-odd
teachers and the Norwegian Ministry of Education must join an association the
object of which was to compel all the boys and girls of Norway between the
ages of ten and eighteen to belong to the Nazi Youth Organization.

To carry out this plan, the Quisling government closed all schools during
the month of March and ordered all teachers, as well as the Ministry of Educa-
tion, to make their decision before April 8th. To their credit almost all the
teachers did what almost all the ministers of religion did several months ago—
they refused.

The Nazis are not the only ones who know that if they control the pulpit
and the classroom, no freedoms are safe. The teachers and clergy know this
and are willing to risk their lives to preserve the integrity and sanctity of the
school and church. Of course, the teachers were arrested, and they are paying
the penalty of being loyal to high professional ideals and their pupils' best
interests.

Officials who are interested in the welfare of their people are not afraid
of the power of knowledge. They know that truth always operates to set men
free. That is why we of America have faith in the power of knowledge. As
long as men and women seek their information and facts; and then are guided
by reason and sound judgement, a nation has nothing to fear.

The devotion of these teachers did not go unrecognized in our Country.
In one broadcast to Norway, Dr. Willard Givens, speaking for the National
Education Association said: "This courageous conduct is an inspiration to the
teachers of America who are mobilizing the Nation's educational resources to
aid in winning a war in which we have the utmost confidence of final victory.
Popular Government is maintained only by people well enough educated to
govern themselves. The Democracies owe much to their teachers and to their
educational institution even in normal times. The last ditch stand of Norway's
teachers in the labor concentration camps in the northern regions of their
country to defend Democracy in its extremity arouses the admiration of Amer-
can teachers and impels us to greater war efforts. "

In another broadcast the Commissioner of Education, Dr. John W. Stud-
ebaker, said: "I want to tell you that your heroic refusal to teach Nazi lies
to your pupils will be known to all American teachers. They will be stirred
by it. America is on the march. More than 3, 000, 000 technical workers have
been trained in special classes during the past two years. They are serving in
the armed forces and in our industries. Keep the lamp of learning aflame in
your hearts. " Certainly, there is no one in this audience that does not echo the
sentiments of these educational leaders towards the teachers of Norway and
at the same time wish to express his gratitude to the teachers of; this commun-
ity and State and Country for the efficient and unselfish performance of addition-
al tasks recently requested by the National Government.

Let me now say a word to the young people of this audience—students as
well as graduates. There are many jobs that you can do; there are many ways